Seminary of the Good Shepherd

The Seminary of the Good Shepherd is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Homebush, New South Wales, Australia. It serves as the formation center for men preparing for the priesthood primarily in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, as well as for several other dioceses within New South Wales and beyond, including the Dioceses of Broken Bay, Canberra and Goulburn, Wollongong, Maitland-Newcastle, and Bathurst. The seminary is principally administered by the Archdiocese of Sydney[5][2].

History

The Seminary of the Good Shepherd was established in 1996 as a response to the need for separating overall seminary formation and academic formation, which was previously undertaken at the older St Patrick's College, Manly, founded in 1889. The decision to relocate and establish a new seminary was driven by declining numbers of seminarians and a new organizational vision. The seminary opened at its current site in Homebush following the vacating of St Patrick’s College estate in 1995. Meanwhile, the Catholic Institute of Sydney was established soon after to handle theological education[5].

Mission and Formation

The Seminary provides a comprehensive seven-year formation program that encompasses human, spiritual, pastoral, and academic dimensions. Its mission is to foster the development of men who are strong in faith and love, shaped to be shepherds after the heart of God. The seminary emphasizes that a vocation to the priesthood ultimately is a call from God, to which the seminarians respond through love and dedication[1].

Community and Programs

The seminary community is composed solely of men discerning the priesthood, coming from diverse backgrounds and dioceses. The formation includes developing human character, spiritual life, pastoral skills, and theological education necessary for priestly ministry[2][1].

The Rector of the Seminary is Fr Michael de Stoop, who leads the formation team. He has been involved in the seminary’s leadership and formation programs, including study at the Institute for Priestly Formation[3].

Recent Developments

In recent years, the Seminary of the Good Shepherd has seen a resurgence in vocations. In 2025, the seminary welcomed its largest incoming class of first-year seminarians since 2017, bringing the total number of men studying for the priesthood to around 46[4].

The Seminary of the Good Shepherd continues to serve as a critical institution for training and forming priests to serve the Catholic Church in Australia, nurturing men who answer the call to priestly service with faith and dedication.

Note: This article is based on publicly available information and does not include contact details as per guidelines.

[1] https://sgs.org.au [2] https://www.sydneycatholic.org/directory/listing/seminary-of-the-good-shepherd [3] https://sgs.org.au/staff/ [4] https://aleteia.org/2025/02/05/australian-seminary-sees-biggest-incoming-class-since-2017 [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary_of_the_Good_Shepherd